Varughese family wants justice for son found deceased in woods

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BELLEVILLE, IL (KTVI) - A Jackson County, IL grand jury determined there will be no criminal charges in the death of SIU-Carbondale student Pravin Varughese. But family representatives believe the grand jury did not receive all the relevant information.

Varughese went missing in February of 2014. His body was found in a wooded area in Carbondale. After police discovered his body, they stated he likely died from hypothermia. They suspected he was unable to get out of the woods after an altercation with someone he had just met.

The family decided to pay for a second autopsy. They say it pointed to blunt force trauma as a cause of death. State’s Attorney Michael Carr dismissed those findings saying the 1st autopsy found no blunt force trauma.

Charles Stegmeyer, attorney for the Varughese family, says that grand jury never heard about the 2nd autopsy. He says it showed Varughese died from blunt force trauma. He says family members were alerted to the trauma when their funeral home suggested they should have a 2nd autopsy performed.

The case has gotten the attention of two retired investigators in Milwaukee, WI. Ira Robins and Slavtore Rastrelli are volunteering their time to work on the case. They formed a group called Archangels of Justice.

“How do you expect anybody to make a reasonable decision when you don’t get all the evidence?” asked Robins.

Stegmeyer has filed a civil suit on behalf of the Varughese family. Robins says he’s shared information with members of congress and a representative from Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office seeking action.

“I believe with all my heart that Gov. Rauner taking a look at this is going to have to do something,” said Robins.